Automatic water supply device

ABSTRACT

An automatic water supply device comprises a pot-shaped case having a space enclosing a flowerpot in the inside, a supporting bed of reverse bowl shape enclosed in the case and holding the flowerpot thereon, a control unit arranged in a gap between the inside of the case and the flowerpot and containing at least an air pump, a controller and a timer, an air tube connected to outlet side of the air pump and having a front end part communicating with the inside of the supporting bed, and a device to exhaust air in the supporting bed when the supplying water is finished. Since the water supplying device basically has simple structure that a supporting bed of reverse bowl shape is inserted from the upper side and enclosed in the case, a part storing water can be taken to pieces and inspection or cleaning is easy. Also since the control unit is arranged between the inside of the case and the flowerpot, it can be easily detached and when the casing of the unit is made the waterproof structure, it can be used in enclosing in any position in the case without trouble. Further since all parts including the control unit are enclosed in the case, mechanical parts are not exposed or projected and good appearance can be secured. Also noise of the air pump can be prevented from being dispersed to the outside.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 08/673,153 filed Jun. 25,1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,170.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an automatic water supply device forsupplying water into a flowerpot automatically.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In the prior art, an automatic water supply device for supplying waterinto a flowerpot automatically, JP-U 3-114940, JP-U 4-65057 and the likedisclose an automatic water supply device where water is supplied intoan enclosing tank enclosing a flowerpot from the bottom part of theenclosing tank and the flowerpot is in water.

In such an automatic water supplying device, since an enclosing tank fora flowerpot is formed in a body case on upper side and a water tank isprovided on lower side of the body case and a conduit tube is projecteddownward from the bottom part of the enclosing tank positioned on upperside into the water tank, height of the water tank becomes high andshape of the body case becomes long in the vertical direction therebythe body case has a defect in that its shape becomes unstable.

Also in the water supply device disclosed in JP-U 3-114940, since acontrol device such as an air pump is enclosed in the water tank, inorder to secure the waterproof property in the part where the controldevice is enclosed, a complicated waterproof structure must be usedthereby a problem exists in that the number of parts is increased andthe waterproof property is deteriorated during repair, maintenance orinspection.

Further in such a water supplying device, the water tank within the bodycase is formed by arranging partition walls in the case, and in order tosecure the waterproof property, usually the partition walls are fixed inthe body case completely. Therefore when the inside of the body case iscleaned, since the partition walls can not be taken to pieces, theinside of the water tank can not be cleaned and fur or the like isstored in the water tank and trouble is caused thereby a problem existsin that repair, maintenance or inspection is very difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic watersupply device which can be taken to pieces easily during maintenance,inspection, repair or cleaning and can be easily assembled withoutconsidering the waterproof property.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic watersupply device where height of the device is made low and the device canenclose and supply water in a flowerpot in a stable attitude.

In order to attain the foregoing objects, an automatic water supplydevice of the present invention comprises a pot-shaped case having spaceenclosing a flowerpot in the inside, a supporting bed of reverse bowlshape enclosed upside down in the pot-shaped case for supporting theflowerpot thereon, a control unit arranged in the pot-shaped case at agap between the inner surface of the case and the flowerpot andcontaining at least an air pump, a controller and a timer, an air tubeconnected to the exhaust side of the air pump and having the front endportion communicating with the inside of the supporting bed, and airexhaust means for exhausting air within the supporting bed at thefinishing state of the supplying water.

Here as air exhaust means, such configuration may be adopted that whenthe air pump is stopped, air within the supporting bed is exhaustednaturally through the air pump and the air tube by the air pressure dueto the weight at position higher than that of the supporting bed.

Since this automatic water supply device basically has such simpleconfiguration that the supporting bed of bowl shape laid upside down issimply inserted from the upper side and enclosed in the pot-shaped case,the part storing water can be taken to pieces quite simply and can beinspected or cleaned simply. Also since the control unit is arrangedbetween the inner surface of the pot-shaped case on upper side and theflowerpot, it can be easily detached, and if the casing of the controlunit is made the waterproof structure, the control unit can be enclosedat any position in the pot-shaped case and can be used without anytrouble. Of course, since all parts including the control unit areenclosed in the pot-shaped case, the mechanical parts are not exposed orprojected and the good appearance can be secured. Also the noise of theair pump can be prevented from being dispersed to the outside.

In such an automatic water supply device, the flowerpot is enclosed inthe pot-shaped case and held on the supporting bed in the case. Water issupplied into the pot-shaped case nearly at the level slightly lowerthan the ceiling plate of the supporting bed. The control circuit of thecontrol unit is turned on and the automatic supplying water operation isstarted. After lapse of the previously set time, the air pump is drivenand air is sent through the air tube into the supporting bed. As air isfilled in the supporting bed of bowl shape laid upside down, the airwithin the supporting bed is expanded and the water level within thesupporting bed is pushed down thereby the water within the supportingbed is pushed out of the supporting bed.

Then the pushed-out water rises in the gap between the inner surface ofthe pot-shaped case and the flowerpot, and when the water level withinthe pot-shaped case attains to the suitable level, the air pump isstopped by the time limiting operation by the timer, by detection of thewater level by the level sensor, or by the moisture sensor detecting themoisture content within the flowerpot. In this state, the lower portionof the flowerpot becomes the immersed state in the water and thesupplying water is performed from the bottom of the flowerpot. Then ifthe air pump is stopped, since the air within the supporting bed isclosed substantially, the state is held for a while.

And then, the air within the supporting bed is exhausted to the outsidethrough the air tube and the air pump, and as the water level within thesupporting bed rises attendant on the decrease of the air, the waterlevel existing between the inner surface of the pot-shaped case and theflowerpot is lowered gradually until the water level inside thesupporting bed and the water level outside the supporting bed becomenearly equal, and the flowerpot is completely separated from the waterand the supplying water is finished. Such operation is repeated everyprescribed time by the time limiting operation of the timer, and thesupplying water of the flowerpot is performed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an automatic water supply device in afirst embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the water supply device inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a configuration block diagram of a control unit 7;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a water supply device with structuremodified;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an automatic water supply device in asecond embodiment in use state;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the water supply device in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the water supply device;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a device having a water tank of otherstructure;

FIG. 9 is a configuration block diagram of a control unit 25;

FIG. 10 a fragmentary enlarged sectional view showing connectionstructure of an air tube 24;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view in state that water is stored in a watertank

FIG. 12 is a sectional view in state that water flows into a flowerpot27;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view in state that the flowerpot 27 is in watercompletely;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view in state that water is returned into thewater tank 22;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a water supply device in anotherembodiment;

FIG. 16 is a plan view of the water supply device in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view of the water supply device;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a control unit 45; and

FIG. 19 is a sectional view of a water supply device in still anotherembodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 show an automatic water supply device in a firstembodiment of the present invention. A pot-shaped case 1 is formed inpot shape with the upper surface opened and the bottom part closed, andhas such size that a flowerpot 5 can be inserted from the upper side andenclosed in the case 1. A supporting bed 2 is enclosed in the pot-shapedcase 1 so that it can be inserted from the upper side. The supportingbed 2 is formed in bowl shape laid upside down and in reverse bowl shapehaving the flat upper surface, and has such size that it can be arrangedon the bottom part inside the pot-shaped case 1 through a small gap. Thepot-shaped case 1 and the supporting bed 2 can be molded by syntheticresin, and various sorts of pattern and color can be applied to theouter circumferential surface of the pot-shaped case 1. However, plainsurface without any pattern or any color may be used, or the pot-shapedcase 1 can be used in enclosed state in a fancy box so that the fancybox with beautiful appearance comes to the outside of the pot-shapedcase 1.

There is no problem when the supporting bed 2 is simply inserted in thepot-shaped case 1 because the supporting bed 2 is pushed by theflowerpot 5 from the upper side. However, in order to prevent thefloating due to the buoyancy securely, an engaging convex portion 1c maybe provided at the inside of the pot-shaped case 1 so that the floatingof the supporting bed 2 can be prevented by the engaging convex portion1c. The supporting bed 2, the inside bottom surface 1a and the bottomside wall inner surface 1b of the pot-shaped case 1 constitute a watertank 3 of upper side closing type.

As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of recesses are formed as conduits 2c atthe lower end part of the supporting bed 2, and the conduit 2ccommunicate with a water flow path 4 formed between the bottom side wallinner surface 1b of the pot-shaped case 1 and the circumferentialsurface 2a of the supporting bed 2. Consequently, when water is suppliedinto the pot-shaped case 1 in the vicinity of the supporting bed 2, thewater advances into the supporting bed 2 and the water flow path 4around the supporting bed 2. When air is compressed and supplied intothe supporting bed 2, the water pushed out from the inside of thesupporting bed 2 passes through the conduits 2c and the water flow path4 and advances between the flowerpot 5 and the pot-shaped case 1.

A control unit 7 is arranged between the inner surface of the pot-shapedcase 1 on the upper side and the flowerpot 5 in attachable or detachablestate. The control unit 7 contains an air pump 10 driven by a motor orthe like, an electromagnetic valve 11 connected to an exhaust port 10aof the air pump 10, a timer 13 and a controller 12 driving andcontrolling the air pump 10 and the electromagnetic valve 11 in responseto operation of a moisture sensor 14. The control unit 7 is usuallyenclosed in the casing of the waterproof structure.

An air tube 6 is connected through the electromagnetic valve 11 to theexhaust port 10a of the air pump 10. The air tube 6 has an opened frontend portion 60 arranged on the upper end position within the supportingbed 2 as shown in FIG. 1. A moisture sensor is arranged so as to beinserted to soil 50 within the flowerpot 5, and detects the moisturecontent within the flowerpot 5 and sends a signal corresponding to themoisture content to the controller 12.

Next, operation of the automatic water supplying device during runningwill be described. The flowerpot 5 is inserted from the upper side intothe pot-shaped case 1 and held on the supporting bed 2 within thecase 1. Water is supplied into the pot-shaped case 1 at level slightlylower than the ceiling plate of the supporting bed 2.

In this state, the controller 12 of the control unit 7 is turned on andthe automatic supplying water operation is started. After lapse of timepreviously set in the timer 13, the air pump 10 is driven and air issent from the exhaust port 10a through the electromagnetic valve 10 andthe air tube 6 into the supporting bed 2. When air is compressed andfilled in the supporting bed 2 in bowl shape laid upside down, the airchamber within the supporting bed 2 is expanded and the water levelwithin the supporting bed 2 is pushed down thereby the water within thesupporting bed 2 is pushed out of the supporting bed 2.

The pushed-out water rises in a gap between the inner surface of thepot-shaped case 1 and the flowerpot 5, and when the water level withinthe pot-shaped case 1 attains to level in the vicinity of the moisturesensor 14, the controller 12 stops the air pump by input of a signalindicating rise of the moisture from the moisture sensor 14 or by thetime limiting operation by the timer 13.

Then the flowerpot 5 becomes the state that its lower part is immersedin the water, and the supplying water is performed from the lower partof the flowerpot 5. Also when the electromagnetic valve 11 provided atthe air tube 6 performs the closing operation and closes the air tube 6,since air within the supporting bed 2 is closed, the supplying waterstate is held for a while.

And then if the electromagnetic valve 11 performs the opening operationby the time limiting operation of the timer 13, air within thesupporting bed 2 is exhausted to the outside through the air tube 6, theelectromagnetic valve 11 and the air pump 10. The water level within thesupporting bed 2 rises due to decrease of the air within the supportingbed 2, and the water level between the inner surface of the pot-shapedcase 1 and the flowerpot 5 is lowered gradually until the water levelinside the supporting bed and the water level outside the supporting bedbecome nearly the same. Then the flowerpot 5 is separated from the watercompletely and the supplying water is finished. Such operation isrepeated every prescribed time by the time limiting operation of thetimer 13, and the supplying water of the flowerpot 5 is performedperiodically.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment. In a water supply device of FIG. 4, inplace of the moisture sensor 14 as above described, a level sensor 90 isarranged at the intermediate level position within the pot-shapedcase 1. The level sensor 90 is connected to the controller 12 as abovedescribed, and when the water level rises to the level position, thelevel sensor 90 sends a water detecting signal to the controller 12. Thestop operation of the air pump 10 or the like after outputting the waterlevel detecting signal from the level sensor 90 to the controller 12 isthe same as in the preceding embodiment. The control unit 7 is arrangedto the upper part within the pot-shaped case 1 in attachable ordetachable state in similar manner to the above description, but thelevel sensor 90 can be arranged in any position lower than this.

Thus since the supporting bed 2 is inserted from the upper side into thepot-shaped case 1 in attachable or detachable state and also the controlunit 7 is inserted and arranged in a gap between the inner surface ofthe pot-shaped case 1 on upper side and the flowerpot 5 in attachable ordetachable state, when the device is washed or when parts are exchangedor repaired, the water supply device as a whole can be taken to piecesor assembled simply and the waterproof property need not be consideredduring the work.

In the embodiment as above described, after air is supplied into thesupporting bed 2 by the air pump 10 and the water level within the caseis raised and the supplying water state and the air pump 10 are stopped,the air exhaustion is stopped by the electromagnetic valve 11 and thesupplying water state is held for a while, but when the water supplydevice is used in every short supplying water time without holding thesupplying water state, the electromagnetic valve 11 is not used and theair tube 6 may be connected directly to the air pump 10.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 5 to FIG. 14 show a second embodiment of the present invention. Theautomatic water supply device comprises a pot-shaped case 21 enclosing aflowerpot 27, and a water tank 22 of lateral setting type enclosed in agap formed between the inner wall of the pot-shaped case 21 and theflowerpot 27 when the flowerpot 27 is enclosed in the pot-shaped case21.

The water tank 22 comprises the upper part in closed structure and thebottom part having an opening part 224, and is formed in nearlycylindrical shape partially cut away in longitudinal direction as shownin FIG. 7. That is, the water tank 22 has a cavity of nearly cylindricalshape surrounded by an inner side wall 221, an outer side wall 222 and aceiling part 223, and an opening part 224 is formed at the bottom partof the water tank 22 and leads to the inside of the pot-shaped case 21.

Further, a space to enclose the flowerpot 27 is formed at the centerpart of the water tank 22, and a pot receiving part 225 of flange shapeis formed at the lower portion of the space, i.e., at the inside of thebottom part of the water tank 22.

The water tank 22 can be easily enclosed from the upper side into thepot-shaped case 21 in attachable or detachable state, and the flowerpot27 is held on the pot receiving part 225 thereby the water tank 22 isnot floated but arranged to the definite position within the pot-shapedcase 21. In this case, a gap leading to the opening part 224 of thewater tank 22 is formed under the flowerpot 27 as shown in FIG. 5.

The water tank 22 may be prevented from being floated not providing thepot receiving part 225, and such example is shown in FIG. 6 or the like.That is, as shown in FIG. 6, at the upper part of the inside of thepot-shaped case 21, an engaging convex part 211 is partially projected.The ceiling part 223 of the water tank 22 abuts on the lower side of theengaging convex part 211 thereby the water tank 22 is prevented frombeing floated.

In this case, the flowerpot 27 advances to the bottom part of the centerspace of the water tank 22, and is held on the bottom plate 212 of thepot-shaped case 21. However, the bottom part of the flowerpot 27 usuallyhas a space as shown in FIG. 6, and the opening part 224 of the watertank 22 and the space at the bottom part of the flowerpot 27 communicatewith each other.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, a water tank of nearly cylindricalshape can be formed in dividing in two to three pieces, such as watertanks 226, 227, 228, and when the water tank is formed in dividing,molding of the tank by synthetic resin becomes easy. Also each of thesewater tanks 226, 227, 228 comprises the upper part in closed structureand the bottom part having an opening part as above described, and inorder to connect the upper space of each tank, a communication tube 29is connected to each other.

As shown in FIG. 7, a control unit 25 and an air tube 24 are enclosed inattachable or detachable state in a space formed in that a part on thecircumference of the water tank 22 is cut away. The control unit 25comprises a suction air pump 30 driven by a motor or the like, anexhaust air pump 31, electromagnetic valves 34, 35, a timer 33, and acontroller 32 for driving and controlling the air pumps and theelectromagnetic valves in response to operation of the timer 33 andlevel sensors S1, S2, S3 as shown in FIG. 9.

The electromagnetic valve 34 is connected to an outlet port 30a of thesuction air pump 30, and the electromagnetic valve 35 is connected to aninlet port 31b of the exhaust air pump 31. An air tube 24 is connectedto the opposite side of the electromagnetic valves 34, 35, and anatmosphere tube 36 is connected to an inlet port 30b of the suction airpump 30 and an outlet port 31a of the exhaust air pump 31.

An opening front end portion of the air tube 24 is inserted into thewater tank 22 through the opening part 224 of the bottom part and isarranged on the upper end portion within the water tank 22. The levelsensors S1, S2, S3 each detecting the water level and outputting adetection signal are arranged at the upper end portion, at the lower endportion inside the water tank 22, and at the position slightly higherthan the midpoint position in the gap between the water tank (inside thepot-shaped case), and the flowerpot 27. A detection signal outputtedfrom each level sensor is sent to the controller 32.

Next, operation of the automatic water supply device during running willbe described. The flowerpot 27 is enclosed from the upper side in theinside of the water tank 22 within the pot-shaped case 21. Water issupplied into the pot-shaped case 21 at level of about a half.

In this state, the controller 32 of the control unit 25 is turned on andthe automatic supplying water operation is started. First, thecontroller 32 opens the electromagnetic valve 25 and drives the exhaustair pump 31. Thereby the air remaining at the upper portion within thewater tank 22 is exhausted through the air tube 24, the electromagneticvalve 35, the pump 31 and the atmosphere tube 36, and the water withinthe pot-shaped case 21 is sucked into the water tank 22 from the openingpart 224 as shown in FIG. 14.

When the water within the pot-shaped case 21 falls to the lowest level(under the bottom part of the flowerpot 27) and the water level withinthe water tank 22 becomes the highest level, the exhaust air pump 31 isstopped by the detecting operation of the level sensor S1 and theelectromagnetic valve 35 is closed. As shown in FIG. 11, water is storedin the water tank 22 and no water exists around the flowerpot 27. Thisstate is the non-supplyed water state, i.e., the normal state.

And then, after lapse of the time previously set, the electromagneticvalve 34 is opened by the time limiting operation of the timer 33 andthe suction air pump 30 is driven, and the atmospheric air is sentthrough the atmosphere tube 36, the pump 30, the electromagnetic valve34 and the air tube 24 to the upper part within the water tank 22.

Thereby as shown in FIG. 12, water in the water tank 22 is pushed outthrough the opening part 224 into the pot-shaped case 21 and the waterlevel in the pot-shaped case 21 rises, and further in state as shown inFIG. 13 for example, the suction air pump 30 is stopped by the detectingoperation of the level sensor S3 and the electromagnetic valve 34 isclosed. Thereby the flowerpot 27 within the pot-shaped case 21 becomesthe immersed state in the water, and the water enters from the bottompart and the flowerpot is in water.

In this state, when the supplying water of the prescribed time isfinished, the electromagnetic valve 35 is opened by the time limitingoperation of the timer 33 and the exhaust air pump 31 is driven. The airremaining at the upper portion within the water tank 22 is exhaustedthrough the air tube 24, the electromagnetic valve 35, the pump 31 andthe atmosphere tube 36 as above described, and the water within thepot-shaped case 21 is sucked into the water tank 22 from the openingpart 224 as shown in FIG. 14.

When the water within the pot-shaped case 21 falls to the lowest level(under the bottom part of the flowerpot 27) and the water level withinthe water tank 22 becomes the highest level, the exhaust air pump 31 isstopped by the detecting operation of the level sensor S1 and theelectromagnetic valve 35 is closed, and as shown in FIG. 11, suchnon-supplyed water state is returned that water is stored in the watertank 22 and no water exists around the flowerpot 27.

In addition, in such state that the water in the pot-shaped case 21 isdecreased and even if the exhaust air pump 31 is operated, the waterlevel does not rise to the level sensor S1, the exhaust air pump 31remains operating. In this case, the exhaust air pump 31 may be stoppedby the time limiting operation of the setting time previously set in thetimer 33.

Such operation is repeated every prescribed time by the time limitingoperation of the timer 33, and the supplying water to the flowerpot 27is performed periodically. The level sensor S2 is a sensor detecting thestate that the water level within the water tank 22 falls abnormally.When the water level of the water tank 22 (within the flowerpot) due tothe suction of plant or the like, the level sensor S2 sends a signal tothe controller 22 and informs the abnormal state.

In this embodiment, although the air tube 24 is inserted from theopening part of the bottom of the water tank 22 into the tank, as shownin FIG. 10, a joint may be attached in the vicinity of the upper part ofthe water tank 22 and the air tube 24 may be connected there.

Further in this embodiment, although the two pumps, the suction air pump30 and the exhaust air pump 31, are used, in the case of a pump havingstructure performing both operations, suction and exhaust, in changing(a pump having structure that a pump rotor can be driven in forward andreverse rotation, and suction is performed during forward rotation andexhaust is performed during reverse rotation), one pump can perform bothoperations. In this case, the air tube 24 may be connected to one of theinlet/outlet ports of the suction/exhaust pump through theelectromagnetic valve.

Further in this embodiment, in order to hold the supplying water stateand the non-supplying water state in definite time, although theelectromagnetic valves 34, 35 are used, if a pump having structurecapable of stopping air flow completely at the stopping state is used,the air tube 24 may be connected directly to the air pumps 30, 31 notusing the electromagnetic valves 34, 35.

Thus since the water supply device has such structure that the watertank 22 is inserted from the upper side and enclosed into the pot-shapedcase 21 in attachable or detachable state, and also the control unit 25is inserted and arranged into the cutaway space of the water tank 22 inattachable or detachable state at the upper part within the pot-shapedcase 21, when the device is washed or when parts are exchanged orrepaired, the water supply device as a whole can be simply taken topieces or assembled and the waterproof property need not be consideredduring the work. Also since the water tank 22 is enclosed in a gapbetween the surrounding wall of the pot-shaped case 21 and the flowerpot27, height of the pot-shaped case 21 can be lowered and the water supplydevice can be made stable in appearance and physically.

FIG. 15 to FIG. 17 show a water supply device using another water tank42. The water tank 42 of this water supply device is of lateral settingtype as above described, but width in radial direction in a plan view isformed thick in one side and thin in other side and the water tank 42 isenclosed between the inner circumferential wall and the flowerpot 47within the pot-shaped case 41 enclosing the flowerpot 47 as abovedescribed.

That is, the water tank 42 is formed in nearly cylindrical shapepartially cut away longitudinally and width in radial direction is thickin one side (cutaway side) and thin in other side, and the water tank 42comprises the upper part in closed state and the bottom part having anopening part 424 which communicates with the inside of the pot-shapedcase 41. Also the water tank 42 is inserted and enclosed in thepot-shaped case 41, and is locked to the definite position within thepot-shaped case 41 and prevented from being floated by an engagingconvex part 411 provided at the inside of the case 41.

A space to enclose the flowerpot 47 is formed at the center part of thewater tank 42. The flowerpot enclosing space is formed in deviating,i.e., shifting to one side in a plan view of the pot-shaped case 41.Thereby the water tank 42 is formed so that width in radial direction ina plan view becomes thick in one side (cutaway side) and thin in otherside.

The water tank 42 is formed so that the center space is deviated asabove described, thereby a space (cutaway space) 48 for insertion of acontrol unit 45 can be formed large and even the control unit 45 oflarge size can afford to be enclosed in the pot-shaped case 41. Also thewater tank 42 can be divided at the narrowest width longitudinally intotwo tanks, and molding by synthetic resin becomes easy by the dividingin two. In this case, the upper part of each tank may be connected by acommunication tube in similar manner to FIG. 8 as above described.

FIG. 18 shows an embodiment of a control unit 45 to be inserted from theupper side into a cutaway space of the water tank 42. The control unit45 has a casing 451 which is thin and long in the vertical direction,and the casing 451 contains the suction air pump 30, the exhaust airpump 31, the electromagnetic valves 34, 35, the timer 33 and thecontroller 32 as above described, and also contains a battery 36 aspower source. The casing 451 is of the waterproof structure.

An air tube 24 connected to the electromagnetic valves 34, 35 is drawnin the seal state from the bottom part of the casing 451. The air tube24 communicates with the upper part of the water tank 42 through a jointor the like as shown in the figure, but the front end of the air tube 24may be inserted from the opening part 424 of the bottom into the insideof the water tank 42 and may be positioned on the upper part within thetank.

The upper part of the casing 451 is closed through a seal member 453 bya cover 452 with an operation board 455 provided on the upper part, andis hermetically sealed by tightening with a screw 454 or the like.Switches of waterproof type are installed on the operation board 455,and the time setting of the timer 33 and the ON/OFF operation of therunning are performed by these switches.

Thus if the control unit 45 being thin and long in the verticaldirection is formed and the water tank 42 is formed in nearlycylindrical shape partially cut away longitudinally and width in theradial direction is made thick in one side (cutaway side) and thin inother side, a space to insert the control unit 45 can be taken much andeven the pot-shaped case of small size can enclose the control unit 45therein.

As shown in FIG. 19, even in a water supply device of supporting bedtype as described in the first embodiment, that is, a device havingstructure that a supporting bed 52 of bowl shape laid upside down isheld on the bottom part in the pot-shaped case 51 and a flowerpot 55 isheld on the supporting bed 52, the control unit 45 as above describedcan be used in inserting in a gap between the pot-shaped case 51 and theflowerpot 55.

Also when water in the pot-shaped case is lacking, in order to supplywater automatically, a reserve tank 56 may be inserted in a gap betweenthe pot-shaped case 51 and the flowerpot 55. The reserve tank 56 isformed in that a cap is installed to a feed water hole provided on theupper part and a thin water outlet tube 57 is provided on the bottompart, and when the water level is lowered from the prescribed level, thewater of the lacking quantity is supplied from the water outlet tube 57into the pot-shaped case 51.

In addition, in all embodiments as above described, although oneflowerpot is enclosed in the pot-shaped case, a plurality of flowerpotscan be enclosed in the pot-shaped case.

Also in this case, the control unit is enclosed in a gap between theinner surface of the pot-shaped case and the flowerpot as abovedescribed, but when a gap between the flowerpots is large, a spacermember having suitable volume to fill the gap is enclosed in the gap inthe pot-shaped case.

What is claimed is:
 1. An automatic water supply device comprising:(a) apot-shaped case having a space enclosing a flowerpot in the inside; (b)a water tank disposed in a gap between the circumferential wall of saidpot-shaped case and the flowerpot, and having a closed upper part and abottom part having an opening part; (c) a control unit positioned in agap between the flowerpot and the water tank within said pot-shapedcase, and containing a suction/exhaust air pump means for feeding airinto the water tank and exhausting air within the water tank, a timerand a controller; and (d) an air tube connected to an outlet port ofsaid air pump means and having an open front end part arranged at aposition in the upper part within the water tank.
 2. An automatic watersupply device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pot-shaped case hasan engaging convex part engaging said water tank which is therebyprevented from floating.
 3. An automatic water supply device as setforth in claim 1, further comprising a pot receiving part provided atthe bottom part of the water tank and held down by the flowerpot therebypreventing the water tank from floating.
 4. An automatic water supplydevice as set forth in claim 1, wherein said water tank is formed innearly cylindrical shape and is partially cut away longitudinallyleaving a space, and said control unit being positioned in the space cutaway longitudinally.
 5. An automatic water supply device as set forth inclaim 4, wherein a radial width of the water tank in a plan view isthick at a side adjacent said space and thin at the other side.
 6. Anautomatic water supply device as set forth in claim 4 or claim 5,wherein said water tank is divided into plural pieces along thelongitudinal dividing surface.
 7. An automatic water supply device asset forth in claim 1, wherein said pump means includes a suction airpump and an exhaust air pump, the air tube being connected to an outletport of the suction air pump and to an inlet port of the exhaust airpump and said control unit further includes an inside water level sensorarranged at an upper end in the water tank and an outside water levelsensor arranged at an intermediate position in a gap between said watertank and the flowerpot, both level sensors being connected to saidcontroller.